FILMAKERS LIBRARY
AFRICA
Africa I Remember
A Musical Synthesis of Two Cultures
A Music on Earth Production
Tunde
Jegede, a black musician and composer, bridges two classical traditions. His
instrument is the Kora, an African harp lute whose roots are in the court of
13th century Mali. First introduced to the Kora in Britain by a Senegalese musician,
Tunde later studied in the Gambia where he found himself immersed in its rich
oral tradition. In this film, we follow him to the villages of West Africa where
he learns from local musicians. We also see him perform his compositions with
the London Sinfonietta.
What is remarkable about Tunde's music is the way it combines West African
and classical European traditions, bringing together a love of both cultures.
Combining African experiences with Western structures, spontaneous composition
with written musical notation, his "The Cycle of Reckoning" reflects
on the legacy of the African slave trade.
"In a particularly moving segment he reflects how the tragic history of
the West African slave trade inspired his composition." World Views
African Studies Association, 1997
Margaret Mead Film Festival, 1996
30 min. Video or DVD. Sale $295. Video rental $55.
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